Businessman charged with using Kelantan royal title without permission

April 20, 2017

PETALING JAYA, Apr 20: A businessman who claimed to be a member of the Kelantan royalty pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today on two counts of using the title and emblem of ” Kerabat Diraja Long Yunus” without permission.

Tengku Iskandar Tengku Ahmad, 71, made the plea after the charges were read out to him before Judge Mohd Kamil Nizam.

He was charged with using the title “Yang Maha Mulia” without the consent of the Sultan of Kelantan on a letter of attorney dated Aug 31, 2014, which he signed using the name “”Yang Maha Mulia Tengku Iskandar Tengku Ahmad Panglima Raja”.

The charge, under Section 3 (1)(a) of the Kelantan Enactment , Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use), provides an imprisonment for up to RM1,000, if found guilty.

On the second count, Tengku Iskandar was charged with acting on behalf of “Kerabat Diraja Long Yunus” by signing the letter of attorney, which had the letterhead of the “Pertubuhan Kerabat Diraja Long Yunus” as a document to allow his driver, Chai Kok Leong, 51, to handle his Mercedes Benz car at the same time and place.

The charge, under Section 48(1) of the Societies Act 1966, carries an imprisonment for up to five years, or fine, or both, if found guilty.

Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud, who prosecuted offered bail of RM5,000 with one surety, but lawyer Datuk Joshua Sambanthan, representing Tengku Iskandar, said his client had ties with the Kelantan royalty and was involved in charity work.

Sambanthan also requested the court to stop the media from making a coverage of the case so as not to affect the coronation ceremony of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, who is also the Kelantan Sultan, this Monday.

However, the court dismissed the request and fixed bail at RM4,000 in one surety.